7 hours agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning (foot) and outfielder Matt Vierling (back) are both starting minor-league rehab assignments this weekend. Manning will start for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, while Vierling is starting his rehab assignment for Toledo on Friday. Manning will likely need a handful of rehab starts since he's been on the injured list since mid-April with a fractured right foot. But when he's healthy, the 25-year-old right-hander should have a spot waiting for him in Detroit's starting rotation. Barring a setback this weekend, Vierling should rejoin the big-league roster early next week. Manning had a 4.63 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and seven K's in two starts before his injury. Vierling will return to a .241/.297/.352 slash line with four home runs, 15 RBI and four stolen bases.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen

8 hours agoMinnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is going for an MRI exam on his left hamstring on Friday in Toronto, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. "I think that'll tell us more hard information than us just kind of testing him, speculating. We don't want to run him or get him moving until we know what we're dealing with. But it hasn't gone away," Baldelli said. The 29-year-old tweaked his hamstring on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays and wasn't in the lineup for the series opener on Friday against the Blue Jays. It's also the same hamstring that recently sent Polanco to the injured list, so fantasy managers need to be prepared for more missed time. Polanco has legitimate power for a middle infielder, but he's played in only 30 games so far in 2023 due to injury. Kyle Farmer got the start at the keystone for the Twins on Friday.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand

9 hours agoOakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. This appears to be a routine rest day for the right-handed slugger. Rooker has cooled off quite a bit since his red-hot month of April. Now, he's slashing .263/.363/.505 with 12 homers and 36 RBI in 50 games this season. He's worth rostering due to his power numbers, but those have dipped in the month of May and June. Seth Brown will serve as the designated hitter and bat third versus right-hander Adrian Houser on Friday.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

9 hours agoMinnesota Twins outfielder Joey Gallo (hamstring) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A St. Paul. The left-handed slugger landed on the injured list last week due to a left hamstring strain. It's great to see that Gallo is ready to begin getting into game action again. At this pace, Gallo should be able to return to the Twins lineup by early next week. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates on his status.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Betsy Helfand

9 hours agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (illness) is absent from Friday' starting lineup against the Kansas City Royals. The 26-year-old is feeling under the weather, so the team will give him a day off to rest. This doesn't sound like anything serious, so fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. Anthony Santander will cover first base and bat third versus lefty Daniel Lynch on Friday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Mountcastle sidelined.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

9 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias (hamstring) was expected to make his return from the injured list and pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Despite recent reports, Urias won't be ready in time to pitch this weekend, according to manager Dave Roberts. It sounds like the 26-year-old felt lingering discomfort in his hamstring while throwing a bullpen session on Thursday. The expectation is that Urias is going to require a minor league rehab assignment before he returns to the Dodgers rotation. That means, Urias is likely still two weeks away from returning to the field. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on his status.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jack Harris

9 hours agoSan Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (wrist) is back in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies. He has missed each of the last four games due to wrist soreness. Luckily, Bogaerts was able to avoid the injured list and is back in the lineup here. He'll bat fifth and play shortstop versus lefty Austin Gomber on Friday. Fantasy managers should make sure to check their lineups and get Bogaerts back in there.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

10 hours agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell is absent from the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners. The 24-year-old made his season debut versus the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. He blasted a 451-foot home run off Drew Smyly in what ended up being a victory for the Halos. A day later, Adell is on the bench versus tough right-hander Luis Castillo. Mickey Moniak will cover right field and bat seventh versus Castillo on Friday. The expectation is that Hunter Renfroe should be back from the paternity leave list by the end of the weekend. Adell is likely going to be optioned back to Triple-A once Renfroe returns.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

10 hours agoColorado Rockies relief pitcher Pierce Johnson has been officially removed from the closer role, according to manager Bud Black. The right-hander has been struggling lately, so it's not surprising that the Rockies have decided to make a change. This season, Johnson holds a 7.50 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, with 33/17 K/BB ratio across 24 innings of work. During this time, right-hander Justin Lawrence has basically taken over the closer role in Colorado. However, Black didn't name Lawrence the closer, but said him and Jake Bird would be in the mix for saves. Fantasy managers should wait and see how this situation shakes out.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Saunders

11 hours agoNew York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (wrist) was diagnosed with a bone bruise and a sprain of his left wrist, and he was officially placed on the injured list on Friday. A typical return to play for this type of injury is roughly three to four weeks, so fantasy managers will need to make due without the elite power hitter for a little bit. Alonso suffered the injury on Wednesday when he was hit by a pitch against the Atlanta Braves. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger had been one of the team's few bright spots in a disappointing season to this point. He's currently batting .231 (53-for-229) with four doubles and a triple while leading the league in homers (22) and RBI (49) in 62 games. Mark Vientos started at first base on Thursday, but Mark Canha will man the cold corner on Friday for the Mets.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Mets Twitter

11 hours agoThe Cincinnati Reds placed right-hander Graham Ashcraft (calf) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a left-calf contusion and recalled right-hander Ricky Karcher from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. Ashcraft said he'd be fine after taking a comebacker off his leg in his outing on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that's not the case after all. The 25-year-old's season statistics aren't fine, either, as he's sporting an elevated 6.78 ERA (5.11 FIP), 1.61 WHIP, 30 walks, a league-high 49 earned runs allowed and 50 strikeouts in 65 innings covering 13 starts for the Reds. They'll use his injury to give him some time away, and there's no guarantee he'll rejoin the rotation when he's ready. Left-handed prospect Andrew Abbott will have a chance to prove he belongs in the rotation the rest of the way.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Reds Twitter

11 hours agoThe Boston Red Sox moved left-hander Chris Sale (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list on Friday and activated outfielder Adam Duvall (wrist) from the injured list in a corresponding move. The team also optioned infielder Enmanuel Valdez to Triple-A Worcester. Sale has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left scapula (shoulder blade), but he won't need surgery. However, the 34-year-old southpaw will be shut down for three to four weeks, so fantasy managers won't be able to expect him to return anytime soon. Sale now isn't eligible to rejoin Boston's rotation until Aug. 2. He made 11 starts this year before getting hurt again, going 5-2 with a 4.58 ERA (3.71 FIP), 1.19 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 59 innings. It's fair to wonder if Sale will ever be healthy again.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Sean McAdam

11 hours agoChicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (leg) is absent on Friday against the visiting Miami Marlins. Jimenez will get the day off to begin a weekend series against Miami after he left the second game of a doubleheader on Thursday against the New York Yankees with a leg injury. Fantasy managers will want to consider Jimenez day-to-day for now, but hopefully we'll see him back in there at some point on Saturday or Sunday. The oft-injured 26-year-old Dominican is currently hitting .257 (35-for-136) with six doubles, six home runs, 24 RBI and 17 runs scored in 35 games, and he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues. Gavin Sheets is making the start in right field and hitting eighth, while Jake Burger is the designated hitter and batting sixth on Friday against Marlins right-hander Eury Perez.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

11 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Vince Velasquez (elbow) underwent season-ending right elbow surgery, according to sources. It's a pretty disappointing development for everyone involved after Velasquez was initially diagnosed with elbow inflammation when he landed on the injured list on May 28. The 31-year-old right-hander was in the midst of a solid first season in Pittsburgh before the injury, going 4-4 with a 3.86 ERA (3.90 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, 14 walks and 37 strikeouts in eight starts covering 37 1/3 innings. It's a tough development for Vasquez, as he's set to be a free agent this winter. Fantasy managers in deep-mixed, single-year leagues that had been stashing him can now safely send him to the waiver wire.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Jason Mackey

12 hours agoThe St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Dylan Carlson (ankle) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned outfielder/infielder Juan Yepez to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. The Cardinals also activated right-hander Jake Woodford (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Memphis. Carlson has been out since May 17 and was hitting a disappointing .230 (23-for-100) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 12 RBI and 12 runs scored in 32 games before going on the IL. St. Louis will play him every day in the outfield, though, with both Tyler O'Neill (back) and Lars Nootbaar (back) still on the shelf. The 24-year-old is starting in right field and is batting ninth on Friday against Cincinnati Reds right-hander Ben Lively.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Lynn Worthy